Mintimer Shaimiev attends a ceremony of reburial of the founder of the Engelhardt Astronomical Observatory

On September 21, Tatarstan State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev attended a ceremony of reburial of Vasily Engelhardt, an outstanding Russian scientist, corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, founder of the Kazan University Astronomical Observatory.

A memorial service was held by abbot Silvanus, prior of Holy Dormition Monastery of Sviyazhsk at the Cathedral of Our Lady "Joy of All Who Sorrow" of Saint John the Baptist Monastery in Sviyazhsk in the morning.

At the beginning of the funeral service Rector of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University Ilshat Gafurov told that preparations for the reburial ceremony began on September 4, when the coffin with the ashes of the Russian scientist was transferred from Dresden to Russia, the island town of Svyazhsk.

“Today Vasily Engelhardt's last will to be buried in his native land together with Dmitry Dubyago, his friend, like-minded fellow, astronomer and rector of Kazan Imperial University, with whom they laid the foundation of the Observatory, will be fulfilled. The descendants of the Engelhardt, who came from different cities and countries, are present here today. Vasily Engelhardt made his last will during his lifetime and the Academic Council of the Imperial University decided to meet his request and bury the astronomer at the observatory site,” Ilshat Gafurov.

The scientist died in May 1915 in the middle of World War I; it was complicated to fulfill his request at that time, so he was buried at the old Holy Trinity Cemetery in Drezden). About 100 years passed before his ashes can be returned to Russia.

According to Mintimer Shaimiev, this is such a remarkable event for the history of Sviyazhsk. He also noted that Vasily Engelhardt and Dmitry Dubyago did a great thing, they laid the foundation for cooperation between the Russian and German scientists of the two countries.

"There should be more such good deeds related to the revival of spirituality. This is the state of our soul and our society. This is a high moral act of those who were involved in it," Shaimiev stressed.

Speaking at the event, Baron Jürgen Baron von Engelhardt, a relative of the scientist, who on behalf of the relatives of the deceased scientist agreed to reburial, thanked Tatarstan President, Tatarstan State Counsellor and Rector of Kazan Federal University for their help to fulfill the astronomer’s will to be buried in his native land.

After the memorial service the coffin with the ashes of the scientist was transported to the reburial place - the Engelhardt Astronomical Observatory. The ashes were placed in a crypt where the body of Dmitry Dubyago lies. "We are witnessing a historic event: they met, where it was stipulated under the will. Vasily Engelhardt is buried where he wanted," Shaimiev said.

All of those present at the reburial ceremony also witnessed the laying of the foundation stone of a monument to Vasily Engelhardt and Dmitry Dubyago. According Ilshat Gafurov the monument is planned to be unveiled next year, a year of the centenary of the death of the astronomer.